In a deeply unsettling case that has gripped South Africa, Racquel “Kelly” Smith and two accomplices have been sentenced on May 29 to life imprisonment for the kidnapping and trafficking of Smith’s six-year-old daughter, Joshlin, who vanished in February 2024.
Despite a widespread and emotional search, Joshlin remains missing, with prosecutors alleging she was sold into slavery—a charge that, while central to the prosecution, was not conclusively proven during the trial.
The sentencing, delivered by Judge Nathan Erasmus, was resolute and uncompromising, underscoring the severity of the crime and the lack of remorse shown by Smith and her co-defendants.
The courtroom proceedings revealed harrowing testimonies from over 30 witnesses, including neighbors, a pastor, and the girl’s teacher, who recounted Smith’s disturbing intentions and admissions of selling her children. A state witness testified that Smith confessed to selling Joshlin to a traditional healer, motivated by addiction and financial desperation. These accounts painted a grim picture of manipulation and betrayal within the family, leaving the community shattered and demanding justice. Despite the convictions, the fate of young Joshlin remains unknown, fueling ongoing police efforts that extend beyond South Africa’s borders.
Joshlin’s grandmother, Amanda Smith-Daniels, spoke poignantly of the family’s anguish, emphasizing that no sentence could restore her granddaughter. The community’s pain was echoed throughout the trial, which unfolded in Saldanha Bay to accommodate public attendance. As South Africa grapples with the haunting impact of this tragedy, authorities vow relentless pursuit of answers and renewed vigilance against the scourge of human trafficking, reinforcing that justice, while sought, cannot erase the wounds inflicted on a broken community.